Associate or Associate Director - Town Planning

Stantec; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Stantec’s Cambridge team is seeking an experienced Town Planner at Associate or Associate Director level to drive major development projects and strategic planning across the East of England.

You'll lead planning projects, manage applications and client relationships, mentor junior planners and help win new work while delivering high-quality solutions for complex infrastructure, regeneration and growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• MRTPI chartership (required).
• Significant consultancy and/or client-side planning experience.
• Strong understanding of the UK planning system and development/plan making processes.
• Experience managing complex planning applications and multidisciplinary projects.
• Commercial awareness with experience supporting business development and winning work.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience mentoring and developing colleagues.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while delivering high-quality client service.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning projects across a diverse portfolio of strategic planning, development and infrastructure schemes.
• Manage planning applications, appeals, Local Plan representations and strategic planning advice.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the planning process.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships while identifying opportunities for future work.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across Stantec to deliver integrated solutions.
• Lead project teams, mentor junior colleagues and support their professional development.
• Contribute to business development activities, fee proposals and tenders.
• Represent clients at meetings, hearings, examinations and public consultations where required.

Skills

MRTPI chartership

Consultancy experience

UK planning system knowledge

Communication & stakeholder mgmt

Mentoring & development

Project leadership

Job description

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced Town Planner at Associate or Associate Director level looking to take the next step in your career with one of the UK's leading multidisciplinary consultancies?

As we continue to grow our Planning business across the UK, we're looking for an Associate or Associate Director to join our established Cambridge team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering major development, infrastructure, regeneration and strategic planning projects while helping shape the future growth of our Planning team in the East of England.

Working alongside experts across transport, environmental services, engineering, architecture and sustainability, you'll help clients successfully navigate the planning process on some of the UK's most complex and high-profile projects.

Whether your expertise lies in residential, commercial, mixed-use, infrastructure, energy, plan making or strategic land promotion, you'll have the opportunity to influence projects and plans from inception through to delivery.

About The Role

As an Associate / Associate Director, you'll combine technical planning expertise with commercial awareness and leadership, helping to grow client relationships, win new work and mentor the next generation of planners.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Leading planning projects across a diverse portfolio of strategic planning, development and infrastructure schemes.
• Managing planning applications, appeals, Local Plan representations and strategic planning advice.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the planning process.
• Developing and maintaining strong client relationships while identifying opportunities for future work.
• Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across Stantec to deliver integrated solutions.
• Leading project teams, mentoring junior colleagues and supporting their professional development.
• Contributing to business development activities, fee proposals and tenders.
• Representing clients at meetings, hearings, examinations and public consultations where required.

Your Impact

You'll play an important role in delivering developments and plans that create lasting social, environmental and economic value.

From strategic planning, residential growth and city regeneration through to nationally significant infrastructure and renewable energy projects, your work will help shape communities while balancing planning policy, environmental considerations and commercial objectives.

As part of a collaborative national Planning team, you'll also help strengthen our presence across Cambridge and the wider East of England, supporting sustainable growth for both our clients and our business.

About You

• MRTPI chartership
• Significant consultancy and/or client-side planning experience.
• A strong understanding of the UK planning system and the development and plan making processes.
• Experience managing complex planning applications and multidisciplinary projects.
• Commercial awareness with experience supporting business development and winning work.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience mentoring and developing colleagues.
• The ability to manage multiple projects while delivering high-quality client service.

Why Join Us

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A p rofessional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups )
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK & Ireland - we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clear growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world‑class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.